Japans Geography
Which continent in Japan on?
Asia
What is Japan's most important agricultural crop?
Rice
What is irrigation?
Supplying water to crops artificially
What does an aging population mean?
A growing share of farmers are older, with fewer younger people replacing them
You farm on a steep hillside. What farming method could help?
Terrace farming
What natural disasters are common in Japan because of its location
Earthquakes and Volcano Eruptions
Name two other products grown or raised by Japanese famers
Vegetables, fruit, tea, livestock
What are pesticides used for?
Controlling pests that damage crops
Why might a farmer need a second job?
A small farm may not earn enough income on it's own
A farmer is losing crops to insects. What tool could help, and what is one concern?
Pesticides can control insects; excessive use may harm ecosystems
Why is only a small portion of Japan suitable for farming?
Much of the land is mountainous, leaving limited flat land
What is aquaculture?
Raising aquatic organisms such as fish or shellfish in controlled conditions
What is terrace farming?
Creating flat steps on mountains/hillsides to grow crops
How can expanding cities threaten farms?
A young person leaves the family farm for a city job. Name two likely reasons.
Examples: higher income, more career options, less physically demanding work
Name the ocean to the east of Japan and the Sea to it's west.
The Pacific: The Sea of Japan
Why does Japan import so much of it's food?
Limited agricultural land and high demand mean domestic production cannot meet all needs
What does intensive agriculture mean?
Producing a large amount of food on a small area of land using significant labour, resources or technology
Why might locally grown Japanese grown rice cost more than imported rice?
A developer offers a farmer money for land near Tokyo. Why might the farmer sell?
The sale may bring more income than continued farming
Why is the Kanto Plain especially important to both farming and cities?
It offers valuable flat land for farming but also contains the expanding Tokyo metropolitan area
Why does Japan export relatively few agricultural products?
Domestic demand is high, production is limited, and local products can be high in cost
Name 3 ways farmers can improve yields on limited land
examples: Irrigation, greenhouses, fertilizers, improved seeds, careful intensive cultivation
How can the government help protect local rice farmers?
examples: subsides and import tariffs or other protective trade measures
If Japan loses more farmland to urban growth, what might happen to food imports?
Dependence on imports may increase because domestic production capacity fails